Well, probably the best Goldilocks compromise of all, the 26-inch wheel which still has the look, just not too much of it. As Jon Lovitz’s SNL perpetual-liar character, Tommy Flanagan, would say, “Yeah, that’s the ticket.” And so it is with this lovely Street Glide built for Alex Mabe of Germantown, North Carolina, by Joey Hensley of Backyard Baggers in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s a Goldilocks’ choice that still cuts the mustard on the show circuit where Monsieur Jack Cofano shot it and it can still take to the streets without the compromises you might have to make with something even bigger. In other words, it might be custom, but it’s still street cool. You can’t ask for much more than that out of a highly-modified Harley bagger. 

  In case you’re wondering if this bike is a little lower than low, that’s because it’s a backyard Baggers lay frame with the proper air suspension on board to get the proper ride height when aired up. Watching a lay frame go from ground to operating altitude is a lot like watching a robot in action. First the ass end rears up followed by the front each doing their own stretching like a dog does when they wake up from on of their many naps. Dogs just stretch a little more before they’re ready to rumble while Backyard’s bagger is ready and raring to go. Just like a dog, all it takes is a little gas to get the show underway.

   Up front all I could think of is that there’s a new sheriff in town with that honey of a five-spoke 26-inch star design wheel that looks more custom factory than an over-the-top big wheel bonanza. There’s just a bit more design harmony and flow to me anyway without the overly-large 30 or 32 wheel totally dominating the build. Maybe I’ve just gotten so jaded by those huge hoops that a 26 looks somewhat normal sized to me. Everything especially the bodywork just seems to fit better to my eyes.

  Speaking of the bodywork, Joey dug into his custom bag of bagger tricks and came up with Dirty Bird Concepts stretched tank and front fender that fit the bill perfectly. The Motor Company’s batwing fairing basically was used as is and that’s okay as it’s a good looking piece to begin with and frankly, hard to improve upon without losing its inner Harley. Even the stock gauges look fine and sometimes stock is just right unless your mission is to erase the stock wherever it lives. It’s a Goldilocks solution in itself.

  Out back, though, the body takes a twist in that the bags, side covers and rear fender are molded into a one-piece unit. The bags are a four-inch stretch setup from Camtech Custom Baggers along with the side covers and fender. Again, not too much and not too little, everything fits peachy keen. Alex Mabe must be a sound freak as those bags are topped by four huge molded in speakers whose grills completely cover the lids’ acreage. Maybe that’s why there’s a wild 2-into-1 exhaust exiting right under the rider’s leg so it stands a chance of competing with the music thumping forth out of those bags. Either way, I think Alex Mabe’s neighbors always know when he’s coming home.

  Oh there’re lots of really nice bits and pieces all over this bike. Take a look at jack Cofano’s photos and see for yourself as I’m not going to list all the stuff when there’s that paintjob to talk about. The artwork by Randy Disher of Dish Did It changes as you get closer and closer to this bike. At first from a ways away it looked like an interesting scheme of many colors, panels and scallops that got me to wondering what was the so-called base paint. I guess it might be red but the closer I got the more I lost the sense of red and fell into Randy’s art trap of making things craft-fully complicated. He used a  bunch of different techniques, finishes and colors to add up to the sum of a complete design that’s on the move in a very classy way. I’ll admit it took me a little bit to really appreciate the finished product, but it’s probably the best compliment that I can say. If something’s out of your normal comfort zone like a flashy paintjob, but draws you in to appreciate what the painter was going for, it’s a success.

  It’s no surprise to me or probably any of you that Joey Hensley and Backyard Baggers has come up with a pip of a custom bagger that can still dance on the highway. All of his builds push the envelope a bit and with each new one having to top the last, he’s got a tough row to hoe but he’s more than up to the task. He’s been doing it for years now with no signs of slowing down. Plus the guy loves his work, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished one in the time it took you to read this story. 

 For more info on Backyard Baggers, check out www.backyardbaggers.net/bikes.html or visit their Facebook page.